Tour Company Exposes the Secrets of New Orleans

When it comes to top priorities, most tourists say they want authentic and unique experiences when they travel. One tour company is making that happen. New Orleans Secrets Tours offers food, cocktail, history, voodoo, and even haunted experiences to unlock New Orleans, and these tours would not exactly be classified as “normal” for the city (if there is such a thing).

“We offer tours and experiences that no one else is doing,” stated Mark Aspiazu, one of three co-owners of New Orleans Secrets, LLC (aka NO Secrets Tours). “Take the Magazine Street Foodie Tour—we are giving visitors the chance to get out of the French Quarter and rub elbows with locals, eating where they eat, and exploring where they go to play.” The carefully selected menu often stretches the visitor’s palate while introducing them to local foods that they might otherwise overlook. In other words, no gumbo or muffaletta on this tour. “People can find those on their own,” Aspiazu said. “This introduces them to other New Orleans-style food that they wouldn’t think to order themselves.”

Their Oyster Tour is another experience exclusively offered by NO Secrets Tours for those who cannot get enough of the famous New Orleans oyster. “We dine at five different restaurants in the French Quarter and eat seven different gulf oyster preparations,” co-owner Angela Monroe stated. Both tours supply enough food for a full meal and include a local beer pairing at one stop.

If you are more into the cocktail culture of New Orleans, there are tours for that, too. The French Quarter History & Cocktail Tour starts out with some fascinating truth-is-stranger-than-fiction stories about the city before introducing patrons to several cocktails that are significant to New Orleans, in the venues that have perfected them. Aspiazu remarked, “This tour is one part history and one part cocktails, perfectly blended.”

Hankering for something different? The Mysteries of Voodoo Tour dispels commonly-held beliefs surrounding the religion. “It’s amazing how inaccurately the movies depict Voodoo,” James Corbyn, co-owner, said. A voodoo practitioner himself, Corbyn details how the African slaves and Haitian immigrants brought voodoo to New Orleans, the rise of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, and the different spirits and rituals of the religion. The tour includes full guidance through the New Orleans Voodoo Museum and a modern voodoo temple. “Voodoo isn’t scary or creepy at all,” Corbyn mentioned. “This tour is definitely one of the most eye-opening experiences we provide.”

These, and several other highly-lauded tours found on their website, are just the beginning for NO Secrets Tours. The company plans to introduce a unique dining experience in the French Quarter sometime later this year, and the mysterious “Secret Sessions” haunted experience will debut later in May. The company also customizes private tours for those who wish to create a truly memorable corporate or group experience in New Orleans.

“It all comes down to this: we absolutely love what we do.” Monroe explained. “Most people save their money and vacation time for months—even years—for their trip, so every moment counts. If they book with us, they are trusting us to make their time in New Orleans special; we take that responsibility very seriously.”

And their reviews corroborate this. A quick scan of TripAdvisor (a popular site used by tourists in selecting tours) shows their five star reviews are racking up. Comments from guests consistently mention discovering a love of New Orleans thanks to the tours, feeling like a local rather than a tourist, and appreciation that the small group sizes allow for customization based on the group’s specific interests.

To book a New Orleans tour or learn more about New Orleans Secrets Tours visit www.nosecretstours.com or call (504) 517-5397.

About New Orleans Secrets Tours

New Orleans Secrets Tours (NO Secrets) unlocks the many historic and cultural mysteries of New Orleans. The result of merging TeachMe Tours (opened in 2014) and the New Orleans Legends and Adventure Company (begun in 2015) into one company, NO Secrets is the collaboration between three highly-ranked tour guides who seek to give visitors an inside look at the unique and interesting city of New Orleans, whether they are interested in food, cocktails, history, nightlife, voodoo, or haunted experiences.

Tour groups are kept small for a more intimate experience but larger, private groups can also be accommodated. The company’s passion and commitment to providing an exceptional guest experience, every time, is evidenced in a 99.98% Excellent review rating on TripAdvisor. For more information, please visit www.NOSecretsTours.com or call 504-517-KEYS (5397).